Lise Kryger

Are you unsure if Airbnb is right for you and your family? Read about our considerations when staying in an Airbnb while traveling as a family – and get a little insight into the advantages and disadvantages that come with it. We have often chosen Airbnb when traveling and have given some thought to when and why we opt for Airbnb as an accommodation option. And when and why we choose to pass on it. But first, what exactly is Airbnb? Airbnb, a platform where you can rent (and also rent out) private accommodations Airbnb was originally created in 2009 by two young American students who came up with the idea of renting out their air mattress as a bed and breakfast to earn some extra money for rent. From there, it didn't take long for them to develop the concept they called 'Airbed and Breakfast' (which eventually became Airbnb). The concept is that you, as a private individual, rent out your home or part of your home as accommodation through a website. You can also choose to rent a private accommodation, allowing you to experience a different type of lodging than you would typically find with hotels, hostels, and similar options. Instead of getting a standardized room, you can experience all standards, choosing the price and quality. For example, you can choose to stay in an entire home or just part of one. You can also decide if it should be a house, an apartment, a cottage, a houseboat, or even more alternative accommodations like windmills and cabins... or... perhaps something like a castle? Today, you can choose from 4 million accommodation options in 191 countries and 65,000 cities. So the selection is definitely not to be underestimated. But what's in it for you – and your family? Is Airbnb Suitable for Families? At first glance, I had no doubts myself. This was absolutely an accommodation service for me and my family. Here, we could choose exactly the type of lodging we wanted. To be completely honest, we are quite picky. Before we had a child, we could easily spend hours looking for 'the perfect place.' Not to say it had to be expensive or particularly fancy. More so, we always spent a lot of time finding a place where we would feel comfortable. Whatever it is, it has to feel good in our stomachs. Now, we’re lucky that we tend to have similar gut feelings about a place, so we often agree on this point (thankfully). It has to feel right; otherwise, we find a new and better place. After we had Sebastian, however, the story of finding the right place changed a bit. We’ve learned how exhausting it can be as a family not to have a place to stay during our travels, and we no longer go around searching for that exact spot. Simply put, we don’t want to put Sebastian through the stress of wandering around looking when he’s on vacation. But Airbnb is a fun and exciting place to find unique accommodations at a price range that fits your needs. There are also many great things about using Airbnb as a family. However, when traveling as a family, there are unfortunately a couple of disadvantages to keep in mind when choosing your lodging. Our Own Experiences with Airbnb Our little family has used Airbnb a few times by now. The experiences we've had with Airbnb are varied but mostly positive. We have more good experiences than bad ones, but there have been a couple of less favorable encounters. Our types of accommodations we have experience with as a family include: 2-story apartment in a townhouse (not an entire home) (3 nights) 2 x Apartment (entire home) (3 + 3 nights) House (entire home) (7 nights) We’ve booked accommodations both in advance and while traveling, with our stays in Italy and Bali booked during our trips. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages for you if you're traveling with your family? Read on – I will cover both aspects below: Advantages of Using Airbnb as a Family It's great to browse through Airbnb and see fun and exciting options that you wouldn't normally find. You can often find entire homes that give you and your family plenty of space to spread out. "Entire homes" provide the opportunity to create a safe and stable environment during a longer trip. These "entire homes" often allow your family to be together while also having the space to enjoy some time apart. Many places have a personal charm that can positively influence the family’s daily mood and atmosphere. Many locations come with gardens and private pools where you and your family can relax and play. Airbnb is flexible: you can choose to stay for a short period or for longer stretches. You might be fortunate with your host and establish a good connection – potentially with their family and children, whom your kids can play with. You and your family can receive great tips and insider local knowledge from your host. You and your family can find accommodations at a lower price than you might have otherwise been able to afford. You don’t have to book all your stays in advance; you can make reservations while traveling (as long as you have internet access). You can read reviews from other travelers about both the place and the host before booking. You can filter Airbnb results with the "Family" category to see family-friendly properties (which includes searching for "entire homes"). You can also filter by categories such as washing machine, high chair, swimming pool, farm stays, etc. You can search for keywords like "Quiet" and "Peaceful" if that’s what your family needs. Alternatively, you can specify how accessible a place should be and fill in specific requirements for the accommodation (like wide doors, shower chairs, etc.). When your family stays in an "entire home," you can cook your own meals, bringing some familiar routines from home, which can be comforting for younger children during a longer trip. When and in What Situations Are There Disadvantages to Using Airbnb as a Family? As you can see, there are many advantages to using Airbnb. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider in your choice. The disadvantages we've experienced haven't been particularly terrible and may not be solely family-related, but they are certainly connected to the fact that we chose Airbnb as a family. Among the disadvantages, we've encountered hosts who were overly involved, making it necessary for us to ask for some alone time as a family. We also had an experience with an Italian host who forgot to inform us that we couldn't stay with him the same day we were traveling from Corsica to Italy by ferry. The host we subsequently got (in Viareggio) forgot to tell us that we couldn't have our first night in the "entire home" we had booked and that we had to stay in her private home instead. The next day, we (along with the host) found ourselves locked inside her apartment for a few hours before we could get out (a longer story – but it was quite cozy). In Bali, we discovered old, used women's underwear under the bed, a sink that fell down, and a co-host who tried to scam us for money. Here is a list of the (relatively few) disadvantages we see to using Airbnb as a family: Airbnb is often a bit more than just a check-in at a counter where you receive your key. Expect that there may be some time spent with the host both during check-in and check-out. Therefore, Airbnb is not very suitable for shorter trips where you have a family to gather and settle. If the place you're staying in has many personal belongings and you have minor travelers who tend to spread out their toys, it can be time-consuming to find everything again when it’s time to pack up. Tip: If you are traveling with many stops, choose an accommodation that appears to have minimal furnishings and "personal items" to avoid the problem of toys hiding. Your host can cancel your reservation at any time. This happened to us in Italy on the same day we were supposed to arrive. It’s not fun, especially when you have children with you. Fortunately, this happens very rarely, as a host would end up in really bad standing due to poor reviews. Standardized rooms and conditions do not exist. This isn't a problem for our family. However, if your family prefers knowing that you will receive the same as everyone else, an Airbnb stay may be a challenge. Our Conclusion on Using Airbnb as a Family We love Airbnb. We consider Airbnb an absolutely worthwhile accommodation service that we always utilize when planning our travels. But we also know from experience that there are certain conditions that must be met before we consider Airbnb. Here are the most important ones: Our stay with Airbnb as a family should last a minimum of 3 nights before we feel it makes sense for us. We function best with 'Entire Home' accommodations. Do you have other experiences and thoughts about staying with Airbnb with children? Leave us a comment below! 😊

Lise Kryger

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